Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-14
Eullfnchcs as Pets.

There is no animal with which | am
acquainted. not even that .'friend of
man the dog, that forms SO firm, so
devoted. so tender an attachment for
Its master or mistress as the bulltincn
the naturally shy and wood-loving
bull finch. that almost dies Of terror
when first caught. bat becomes more
readily reconciled to captivity than
any bird / know.
A word, however, to my readers
here: do not buy one of these too
charming birds unless you have leisure
ana love enough TO make it yoGr COM
p1nlon, to keep il on your study table
or IN your boudoir. talk to it, whistle
to It, feed it with tidbits, and teach it
to love you.
When you have won its confidence.
which, with gentle perseverance on
your part, viii not take LONG. Your
care and attention will be more than
rewarded by the enDressen,ent with
which it will greet your return from
your business or your pleasure; it will
hop down to the door OF the cage as
soon as 1t sees YOU enter the room. and !
invite you with the most fascinating of
bows to let it out and perch upon your
finger, where it will talk to YOU in its
sweetest tones, and rub its dear black
velvet poll against Your cheek or on
your hand, purring the while with
purest and most unalloyed pleasure.
1t will even try TO feed You, and in
stead of feeling offended and annoyed
one lady who wrote to me used the
word ''disgusted" by this profoundest
mark of its affection, feel correspond
ingly grateful, and bless your stars
that you have indeed friend. one who
would die for you, and will, too, if YOU
are cruel enough or thoughtless enough
to slight it or forget it.
do not say that there are no other
birds capable of becoming devotedly
attached to their owners, bat [ do
affirm that not one of them equals the
bulltinch In this respect. True, [ have
known parrots tnat displayed quite u
romantic affection for their master or
mistress, and yet, when parted from
them, sulked perhaps for a few days,
but IN the end accepted accomplished
facts, and, acting upon the advice of
the poet, when they could not be near
the dear ones they loved, made love to
circumstances, was doubtless the most
sensible thing they could do. But
Bully" is compact of far other clay,
and again entreat my readers not to
buy him unless they mean to love him,
for to neglect him is to torture him,
and most cruelty kill him too.
What pretty bird he is! and vet
some writer's have described him as
clumsily made. Fie upon them Can
anything be more symmetrical than
his form, or more quietly beautiful
than the varied tints of his many
coiored coat, or, l should say, cos
tune? Velvety black and rosy red
and delicate lavender gray form
charming combink ton of colors, not
one of which is btrusive or kills
another, as the lag Hes say, but IS rather
enhanced by the lest, the three differ
cnt shades for ing toaSt-eS-Senble
that is simply ct.
A newly capt, : bullfnch may be
purchased for tl4xee or fou1Fhillings,
but one that has been tanned and edu-
pounds, and | haA no no. hesitation G ni IN
saying that it is worth the money if it
is like one dear bird | once possessed,
that was as loving, sensible, and ac-
complished us bird could be. | hope
that he was happy while he called me
master, and | believe he was; at least
[ know that he preferred my society
to that of Il lady of his own species,
who was quite a beauty III her way,
and a very clever little thing to boot;
but he endured her, nothing more, and
never even saw him kiss her once all
the time they lived together, though
he would have fed and carcssed me all
day long ii . would allow him.-Dr.
". 4. Greene, 1T Harper.s Margarine.